|
WX204
Private
Harold David Martin
AIF
2/10 Ordnance Workshops
Service
1940/12/11 - Enlisted Depot 164, Bourke Street, Kalgoorlie
1942/01/10 - After training the unit embarked ‘Aquatania’ at Sydney
1942/01/15 - Arrived Fremantle
1942/01/16 - Left Fremantle for Singapore
1942/01/26 - Arrived Singapore
Soon after landing they were sent to Jahore, Malaya but then taken back to set up a workshop at the Hume Pipe Works.
1942/02/08 - The workshop was shelled so they were moved to Singapore City.
1942/02/15 - Singapore surrendered
Japanese PoW
Changi Camp
PoW No. III 1781
While at Changi they built the monument at Raffles Square
1942/05/14 - Transported with ‘A’ Force by sea to Thanbyuzayat, Burma in Toyohashi Maru with 2000 Australians
Commander Brigadier A.L. Varley, AIF
When the railway was joined at Konkuita in October 1943 he was transported overland back to Singapore from the Thailand end of the railway
1944/09/02 - Being transported in Convoy HI-72 from Singapore to Japan in Rakuyo Maru with Japan Party 3.
New PoW No. III 47710
1944/09/12 - Reported to be lost at sea when the Rakuyo Maru was sunk by American submarine USS Sealion off East Hainon Island
Martin was rescued from the sea by American summarine USS Pampanito, which had been in the attack on the Japanese convoy and had sunk the Kachidoki Maru.
1944 - Returned home to wife, Molly, and young son, Ray
1945/05/17 - Discharged
Post War
Harold visit to the Thailand - Burma Railway
He also returned to Thailand and Burma numerous times, including two ANZAC Day dawn services at Hellfire Pass where he paid respects to fallen comrades.
In 2009, he returned to the US to say thank you to the crew of the USS Pampinito for rescuing him from the sea.
Died
Age 103
May 2020
Information
Japanese Transports
Burma Thailand Railway Memorial Association
Photos ABC News
KEW Files:- WO 361/2005, WO 361/733, WO 361/2056,
|
